Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Begins

Tomorrow, on Friday, June 4th, the National Park Service and Representative Adam Schiff will host a press conference at 10AM at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center to kick off the Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resource Study.

This study will help determine whether or not any areas of the western San Gabriels are eligible for inclusion in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, as well as determining the feasibility of a new system of trails and wildlife corridors that would connect areas from Ventura County to the Angeles National Forest and downtown L.A.

The original plan (PDF) was proposed all the way back in 1990, and called for areas as far east as Santa Anita Canyon and as far north as Placerita Canyon to be included in a new system of connected trails and campgrounds. Most of the areas suggested by the Rim of the Valley Corridor plan in the San Gabriels are already in the potential San Gabriel Mountains NRA Study Area, but the proposed extended boundaries include a substantial area of currently unprotected areas:

from landrights.org. Click for full view.

While at first glance this looks like a pretty massive land grab, the National Park Service is quick to note that private landowners within the boundaries would be free to continue using their land as they see fit. After all, the entire city of Malibu is technically within the boundaries of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and it seems to be doing alright.

Since founding Modern Hiker in 2006, Casey's work on the site has appeared in regional and national publications, including the Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, CNN, New York Magazine, High Country News, and others. He has broken several national news stories about outdoor vandalism and policies and his first book "Day Hiking Los Angeles" is available for pre-order.

9 Comments

Thanks you Barbara for a dose of truth in this area. Putting people off of rural and semi rural lands is a major function of out Federal government. People need to wake up. Agenda 21 does not affect you until it does. Look at the You Tube expositions by John Anthony or Tom DeWeese on Agenda 21 and ICLEI then make up your own mind.

I was a resident of Big Tujunga Canyon prior to the 2009 Station Fire. I plan to return to the Private property where I lived in the Spring of 2012. As a resident, I have to say the Forest Service did not do a very good job of keeping the trash out of the Canyon. Every weekend the picnic areas were trashed! I want to see the San Gabriels left as wild as possible. We do not need off road vehicles, more visitors and traffic to an already damaged landscape. What I am suprised at, is so many of you are ingnorant to what the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Game and many other groups are all really about. They are about obtaining Federal Grant monies that they never use for the purpose they are meant for and how the very politicians that claim to be for the environment are linning their pockets from these land grabs. As far as the city of Malibu, those folks who lost their homes and land to the Santa Monica Mountain Conservency would disagree that Malibu is doing ok being in the Santa Monica Mountains! Do some research, the stories and facts are all over the internet, talk to some of the folks like I have and you will change your minds. The residents of Big Tujunga Canyon were not and are not a “bunch of toothless wonders” as called by many after the Station Fire! Have you ever really tried to get to know any of them. We range from actors, writers, music producers, lawyers, teachers, realtors, engineers, skilled technicians in many fields. We lived along side the wildlife and appreciated and respected them. In the days and weeks ahead read your LA Times for the REAL UNTOLD story of what really happened in Big Tujunga Canyon on August 29th 2009 and who is responsible and just how high in the Federal, State and County Government the guilt will be laid. Open your eyes and read, I once was blind like many of you, until me, my family and friends were burned out on Aufust 29th, 2009. No one can argue that it was just a forest fire, mother nature….I was there and I know what happened and I know who is to blame. The deer, egrits, great blue herons, fox, bobcats, mountain lions, bears and many, many pets were burned to death that day and the days that followed. It should not have happened.

Please approve the expansion of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Our natural resources are more precious than any development can offer. We need to minimize the habitat destruction that is running rampant in our state. We all are aware of our devastated economy and its impact on our parks and recreational areas but now is the time to take advantage of this slowed growth and incorporate the Rim of the Valley with the Santa Monicas and Los Padres National Forest.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully,
Carl Kolvenbach

We need to do everything in our power to protect our open space in it’s natural condition from developers and for wildlife and our future generations. Have you ever heard of anyone taking out a development and returning the land to its
natual state. Thank you to Congressman Schiff for staying on top of the ROV
study.

Thanks for post and alert the ROV Trail (rim of valley) is finally back on a front burner. Had just done search for it several days ago with some dismay the info had 1990 date, funny coincidence now. The link to sign up for NPS e.newsletter on ROV – info, news, and meeting notifications – is http://www.nps.gov/pwro/rimofthevalley/ ; and link for prop rights group’s ROV topic focus with “non-open space rationale” pdf is http://www.landrights.org/ca/samo/ALRA_RIM_email_100606.pdf Thanks again.

Is there any reason why we as hikers and naturists (I should probably put naturists first) should not strongly support this? What is the alternative? To leave the unprotected areas open for development as soon as there’s an economic upswing?
In my opinion hikers need to be more visible and vehement in support of policies that will benefit us and the environment. A couple of years ago I attended meetings on the Altadena Crest Trail Improvement plan, and as far a I could tell I was the only hiker present — or at least the only hiker to speak up. The folks who did voice opinions appeared to be local homeowners afraid that hikers would show up at dawn and park in their neighborhood. This “Rim of the Valley Corridor Study” looks like it may go down the same road, unless we make a bit of noise in support of it.

That is an excellent, excellent point. The site where I got this map (which is way better than anything the Forest Service has put up for the Station Fire) is FULL of very angry, very vocal homeowners who are convinced that this entire proposal is an insidious guvmint plot to boot them off their homesteads. When they start having public comment sessions for this proposal, you can bet they’ll be clogging the streets with their SUVs to fight it tooth and nail.

I hope more hikers take inspiration from your efforts and attend any meetings they can – or at the very least, take the time to send in a written comment.